Artist's Statement and Biography
The work of Molly Wicks explores subtractive form and the ghosts of color. Working from sedimentary layers, fungus, and mold forms, then applying paint to the cuts provides an organic grid whose holes and back refract into shadow harmonies guided by the austere dimensionality of the elevated panel.
As well as the focus placed upon color with the refractions and shadows, a large emphasis is placed on the color painted within the cutouts. The precise painting of these interior spaces creates areas of color vibration, tension, and harmony. These relationships are studied in hopes of generating visual compositions that evoke sound.
Currently, Molly is exploring more representational imagery, but the focus on layers and color remains the same.
Past biology and music, Molly has been influenced by her continuous travels, students, and her children.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2011 | Washington State University, Pullman, WA
MFA: Drawing, Sculpture, Painting
2007 | University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN
BFA: Art; Minors: Spanish Studies and Theater Arts
2004 | IES, Santiago, Chile
Teaching Experience
2019-23 | Lecturer, South Dakota State University
2011-19 | Instructor, South Dakota State University
Courses taught at SDSU:
ART 111: Drawing I
ART 112: Drawing II
DSGN 121: Design Fundamentals I
DSGN 110: Creative Thinking
ART 122: Design, Color
ART 123: Design, 3d
DSGN 152: Design Fundamentals II
ARTH 100: Art Appreciation
ART 231: Painting I
ART 331: Painting II
ART 431: Painting III
ART 432: Painting IV
ART 433: Painting V
ART 482: Travel Studies
2009-11 | Instructor of Record, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
Courses Taught:
FA 110: Introduction to Drawing
FA 102: Visual Concepts 1
FA 320: Beginning Painting
FA 101: Introduction to Art (TA)
FA 303: 19th Century Art History (TA)
FA 304: 20th Century Art History (TA)
2008-09 |Reserve Teacher, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis, MN
Large Projects
2020 Wicks Lab, Permanent collection, Johns Hopkins University
2018 Public Art Commission, SDSU: Harding Hall Atrium
connect. interweave evolve.
2017 Mural, The Brookings Register Wall (with help from the SDSU Art Club)
Solo and Two-Person Exhibitions
2018 New Works, Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD
2016 Hot, Humid, Growth, Constant Growth, Sioux Falls Design Center, Sioux Falls, SD
2015 hue and your shadow, Art Center of Sarasota, Sarasota, FL
Molly Wicks @ Valley City State University Gallery, Valley City, ND
Molly Wicks @ Fishbowl II, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR
2014 Molly Wicks @ Shoebox Gallery, Shoebox Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2013 Ologies, Ographies, Esvelt Gallery, Pasco, WA (2 person show with Eric Parker)
Typographies of Shapes and Lines, CUB Gallery, Pullman, WA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 Faculty Show, Ritz Gallery, Brookings, SD
2021 Faculty Show, Ritz Gallery, Brookings, SD
2020 Here and There, McCormick Gallery, Midland, TX (invited)
Abstraction, South Dakota Art Museum Show (Invited)
Faculty Show, Ritz Gallery, Brookings, SD
2019 Permanent collection, Kaldec Regional Medical Center, Richland, WA
Faculty Show, Ritz Gallery, Brookings, SD
2018 63rd Annual Central Washington Exhibition, Larson Gallery, Yakima, WA (juried)
Faculty Show, Ritz Gallery, Brookings, SD
2017 Ka-Chunk, Ipso Gallery @ Fresh Produce, Sioux Falls, SD
Faculty Show, Ritz Gallery, Brookings, SD
2016 Faculty Show, Ritz Gallery, Brookings, SD
SDcaa Faculty Show, Dahl Arts Center, Rapid City, SD
inaugeral show, South Dakota Gallery, Mitchell, SD (invited)
2015 Built Environments, Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls, SD (joint show with Cassie Marie Edwards and Laura Jewell)
2014-16 6th South Dakota Governor’s Biennial (traveling, juried by Chris Adkins, Coordinator of the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts)
2015 South Dakota Faculty Show, South Dakota Art Museum, Brookings, SD
Miniatures, Arts Center of Sarasota, Sarasota, FL
2013 Open Door 9, Rosalux Gallery, Minneapolis, MN (Juried by Elizabeth Armstrong, Curator of Contemporary Collections at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts)
PRIME, Saranac Art Projects, Spokane, WA
Magnitude 7, Manifest Gallery, Cinncinatti, OH
Out of Bounds, McCormick Gallery, Midland, TX (4 person show)
2012 Open Door 8, Rosalux Gallery, Minnapolis, MN (Juried by Christina Chang, Curator of Engagement at Minnesota Museum of American Art)
First Juried Show, Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls, SD
SDSU Faculty Show, Black Hills State University, Spearfish, SD
South Dakota Arts Faculty Show, Ritz Gallery, Brookings, SD
36th Annual Fine Arts Open Exhibition, Brookings Arts Council, Brookings, SD
This is What’s Up, Maroney Commons, Howard, SD
5th South Dakota Governor’s Biennial (juried and traveling)
UMPH (MMP), SDSU Ritz Gallery, Brookings, SD
2011 SDSU Annual Faculty Exhibition, SDSU Ritz Gallery, Brookings, SD
WSU MFA Exhibition, WSU Museum of Art, Pullman, WA
Student Works, Valley Arts Center, Clarkston, WA
2010 NotMOMA, Gallery 2, WSU Fine Arts Building, Pullman, WA
Graduate Student Spring Show, Two Degree Northwest Gallery, Moscow, ID
First Year MFA Show: Ashlin Mears and Molly Wicks, Gallery 2, WSU Fine Arts Building, Pullman, WA
2009 Co-Mutiny, Frames Up Gallery, Minneapolis
2007 BFA Exhibition, Regis Center for the Arts at the University of MN, Minneapolis, MN
2006 Picasso’s Children, Frank Stone Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Residencies
2014 Vermont Studio Center, Artist Grant received (May-June)
2013 Art Farm, Marquette, NE (June)
Publications/Bibliography/Awards
2021 Green Is My Favorite Color, Artist Talk, seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wARsRKAvyc0
2020 Incorporating the Arts into Architecture, article at Blue Prints SD, seen at: http://blueprintsouthdakota.com/2020/10/incorporating-the-arts-into-architecture/
2019 Guest Artist and Lecture, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
2017 Awardee, South Dakota Arts Council Grant, $2,000 Artist Career Development Grant
2016 Visiting Lecturer, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Trip to Portugal, October 2016
Career Development Grant, South Dakota Arts Council, $2000
201 2014 6th Governor’s South Dakota Biennial Catalog
Examiner. com Interview by Erik Ritter, Molly Wicks @ Shoebox Gallery, seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daH7tDnYhMY
2013 Magnitude 7 Catalog
Out of Bounds Catalog
2012 Artistaday.com, 2056th Featured Artist
New American Paintings, vol. 102 (Juried by Bill Arning, Director of the Contemporary Arts)
5th Governor’s South Dakota Biennial Catalog
2010 LandEscapes Literary and Fine Arts Journal, 2011
Conference Presentations
2019 FATE, Habitat for Humanity, Groups, and Freshman (presented in Columbus, OH)
2018 NCBDS, Creative Thinking (presented in Cincinnati, OH)
2017 FATE, Are There Examples (presented in Kansas City, MO)
2015 FATE, Seed House (presented in Indianapolis, IN)
Study Abroad/Significant Travels
2016 Study Abroad Planning in Portugal for SDSU
2006 Travel in Greece (1 month)
2004 Study Abroad in Santiago, Chile and Travel in South America (Six Months)
2003 Travel in Australia and New Zealand (2 months)
2002 Study Abroad in Cote d’Ivoire and travel through West Africa (Six Months)